Waterford Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

Suffering a work-related injury or illness affects more than just your physical body. These incidents have the potential to turn your entire life upside down in seconds. One moment, you are focused on the tasks of your employment – working on an assembly line, driving a crane on a construction site, or building reports at a desk – and the next moment, you find yourself injured or ill. A Waterford workers’ compensation lawyer can help you secure benefits.

When you suffer a work-related injury or illness, you may find yourself caught up in a haze of medical bills and appointments, losing wages due to missing work. Additionally, claim paperwork can be extremely confusing.

Thankfully, you do not have to face these legal situations alone. The team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law, including Jay Berryman, Carolyn Kelly, and Michael Hespeler, is here to help you recover from the harm you have sustained.

The Most Common Causes of Workplace Injuries

In 2022, the state of Connecticut reported 35,700 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses. This resulted in a total of 3.2 cases per every 100 full-time equivalent workers, higher than the national average rate of 2.7. The most dangerous industries tend to be those in the transportation or construction sectors. These injuries and illnesses, on average, cause millions of dollars in lost employment or productivity for both employees and their employers.

The most common causes of workplace injuries in Waterford, Connecticut include the following:

• Slip and fall. When a worker slips, trips, or falls, they can seriously hurt themselves. Some falls can even be fatal. Many of these accidents happen due to inadequate lighting, exposed wires, missing or torn carpets, uneven pavement or floor surfaces, wet or slick surfaces, missing guardrails or safety rails, and crumbling or uneven stairways.
• Being struck. When a worker is struck by an object, such as a piece of heavy machinery or a falling object, they can suffer traumatic injuries, including broken bones, internal bleeding, nerve or organ damage, traumatic brain injuries, concussions, and spinal cord injuries.
• Motor vehicle accidents. Motor vehicle accidents are common on construction sites and with drivers who transport goods on the road. When an employee is involved in one of these accidents, they may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. These accidents can cause a wide range of horrific injuries, including broken bones, burns, amputations, concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and damage to the spinal cord.
• Being caught. When an individual is caught between two objects, such as two pieces of heavy machinery or a heavy object that falls on an employee, this can cause severe injuries and even death. The most common injuries involved in these accidents include broken bones, amputations, tissue damage, organ and nerve damage, muscle sprains or strains, spinal cord damage, and traumatic brain injuries.
• When workers push themselves too hard, it can result in severe injuries. Another example of overexertion can include repetitive motion injuries, such as carpal tunnel or tendonitis. These injuries are typically caused by doing the same movements over and over again as a part of your employment. Common job duties that result in repetitive motion injuries include typing or working on an assembly line.
• When a worker breathes in harmful chemicals or toxins, this can lead to several illnesses, including a wide range of cancers. Many job sites in Waterford, such as factories or construction sites, can expose workers to fumes, mold, and other dangerous substances, like asbestos.
• Violence in the workplace. The unfortunate reality is that no workplace is immune from violence. A worker may be injured in an attack by a client, coworker, or active shooter.

How Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law Can Help

For over 80 years, the team at Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law has been assisting clients to receive the benefits they are due through their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance. Understanding the full scope of your rights under workers’ comp is vital, as many employees in Waterford, Connecticut are entitled to receive Temporary Total Disability benefits, which are calculated at 75% of your usual weekly wage.

However, receiving these benefits can prove to be a challenge, and it is wise to have an attorney by your side. At Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law can help you by taking the following actions in your case:

• Meet with you and review your case in order to analyze what benefits you may be eligible for.
• Review whether or not you have the ability to file a personal injury claim or wrongful death claim in addition to your claim for workers’ compensation.
• Talk to any eyewitnesses who may be able to help support your claim.
• Collect evidence that can support your claim.
• File all the necessary paperwork on your behalf before the deadline.
• Handle all discussions with the insurance company and all negotiations and hearings that are necessary for your claim.

Challenges in Waterford Workers’ Compensation Claims

In a workers’ compensation claim, you are not always guaranteed to receive benefits, especially in your initial filing. Instead, you may find yourself facing a wide range of challenges. You may even need to file an appeal in order to secure the assistance you need. In Connecticut, you have 20 days to appeal a workers’ compensation decision if you do not agree with the determination which has been made. The most common challenges in workers’ comp include:

• Having your claim denied. The most common and most frustrating experience in workers’ comp claims is having your initial claim denied. Typical reasons for these denials include having poor or insufficient medical evidence to back up your claim, missing the filing deadlines, or facing a dispute over whether or not the injury or illness was actually related to your work.
• Dealing with underpaid benefits. Even in situations where your claim is approved, the benefits you are offered may not be enough to help cover your medical expenses, and you may face difficulties when trying to make ends meet.
• Facing pushback from insurance companies or employers. In certain workers’ compensation claim cases, your employer or your employer’s insurance company may argue that the nature and severity of your injury do not necessitate benefits or that certain treatments are unnecessary. These situations can delay your benefits and add unnecessary stress to the situation.

Have You Suffered a Work-Related Injury or Illness? Contact Us Today

If you have been injured or become ill due to a work-related accident, you deserve compensation to help you recover and get back on your feet. At Suisman Shapiro Attorneys-at-Law, we work hard to ensure our clients are treated fairly and receive the benefits they need. Contact our Waterford office today to learn more about our services.

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